Telephone call transmitter



Nov. 20, 194-5. T. L DOWEY 2,389,247

TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Dec. 31, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIII(IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lllIlVIIII/l INVENTOR 7'.L. DOWEY 94AM QM A 7' TORNE Y Nov. 20, 1945. L, owEY 2,389,247

TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER 7 Filed Dec. 51,1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I IIIIlIII/IIIlI/A'IIIIIIII VIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIII4 VIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAI/ n. l 11,111,,"11111,1,11,11,11,",Ill/11,111,111

INVENTOR 7? L .DOWEY Nov. 20, 1945. p

T. L. DOWEY 2,389,247

TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER 4 l Filed Dec. 51, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN [/5 N TOR 7'. L. DOWEV BY Q Mm- 6. 7M

' ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet '5 T. DOWEY TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Dec. 51, 1945 'IIIIIIIIIIIIII/ I a I a a I I 1 I r M I I 1 I I a I I 5 4 w. v, v N RE Mm mw NO 6A .50 T V. v T w m WW u .E. G H H F 27 d Q Q M T Nov. 20, 1945. T, L. DOWEY TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER,

Filed Dec. 431, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheets FIG. /6

FIG. [8

o I a 4 e ws #4 w we mwvsmoe v T. L. DOWEV ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1945. T. L. 'DLOWEY 2,3 9,247

TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Dec. 31, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR T L. DOWEY BY wwaw . A T7'ORNEV Patented Nov. 20, 1945 TELEPHONE CALL TRANSMITTER Thomas L. Dowey, Summit, N. J assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New 1 York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1943, Serial No. 516,429

10 Claims. (Cl. 17738 This invention relates to telephone call transmitters of the type in which the successive operation of key members'iseffective to set combinedcode-indicator elements in position tocause the operation of vibrative elements'in an alternating current generator for transmitting signals corresponding to the successive operation of the keys and to indicate the number of such keys prior to the transmitting of signals.

The object of this invention is the provision of a call transmitter of the type above referred to which will be simple in construction, convenient in use and positive in operation.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation view shown with the keys in normal non-operated position, the base and the casing housing the transmitter mechanism being shown partly in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1 showing the casing with portions broken away;

Fig. 3 is another right side elevation view shown with the motor spring tensioning mechanism in the operated position;

Fig. 4 is a partial view seen from line 44 in Fig. 16 showing the motor mechanism for moving the generator transverse of the combined code-indicator wheels, the generator bein shown in position for movement ineffective relative to the code elements;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig.4 but showing the combined code-indicator wheels in the set position and the generator in position for engaging the code portion of the wheels upon its operation transverse thereof as effected by the motor mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-6 of Fig. 2, the code wheels being shown in normal non-operated position.

Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to that of Fig. 6 but showing one of the keys and a code wheel in the operated position;

Figs. -8, 9, 10 and 11 are partial views of the code indicator wheel setting and resetting mechanisms withelements of the transfer mechanism in the operated position;

Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of thetransfer sioning handle and the releasing handle for the motor spring in normal non-operated position, a number of parts being shown in-section;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatical view of the code wheels setting;

Fig. 19 is an elevation View of the transmitter of this invention shown in perspective;

Fig. 18A is a partial view showing a number of code wheels held in' normal non-operated positions; and I Fig. 19A is a section view taken .on line ISA-49A of Fig. 18A. p

In the call transmitter of this invention a base Ill is provided .for mounting a, rectangularlyshaped plate II formed at its front disposed'end with'a vertically extending'portion l2 and a portion 13 coextensive to portion lZand substantially at right angles thereto. The portion 13 is provided with a plurality of notches l4 best seen in Figs. 2, 6 and 7 for pivotally receiving a set of key members KI, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6,;Kl,;K8, K9 and. Ki 0. These key members are held in normal non-operated position-by similar retractilesprings I5 having one of their endshooked to downward- 1y extending lug portions I 6 formed with the body portion. of the keys and'their other endsto the mechanism'used for the successive release of the combined code indicator wheels for movement to operated position seen from line I 2--l 2 of Fig. 16;

Figs. 14 and 15 are partial views of the code wheels setting mechanism;

Fig. 16' is a rear elevation view showing the generator in normal non-operated position;

Fig. 17 is a View showing the motor spring tenlower edge portion of an angularly-shaped spacer member ll shown in Figs. 1, 3; 6,7 and 8 disposed transverse of the key members Ki, K2, K3, etc. Spacer'member I1 is provided with notches tn, Figs. 6, '7 and 8,- in its upper disposed vertical portion serving as guides for similar projections 18 formed with'the key Kl; K2, K3. etc., while screws as 802 secure the spacer member ll to upright supports l9 and 20 formed with the plate II and to the top disposed end of these supports is secured as by a number of similar screwssw an inverted U-shaped platep2l supporting a substantially rectangularly shaped cover element ZIY. Theplate 2i and the cover element 'ZIY are providedwith-registering openings to serve-as guides for-the buttonportionof the keys KI;'K2, K3,:etc'., while the cover element 2lY in addition is provided with a window WP, Figs. 1, 2, 6 and-'7, for visual observation of dials an, d2, d3, d4; as, as and d7 carried by aplurality of combined code indicator elements in the form of wheels wl, w2, w3, 104 w5; w6 andwl, shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7, 8 and-9 mounted for ireerotation on a shaft 24 supported at both' ends on upright supporting plates 22 and 23 formed asabove mentioned with the plate ll. 1 l j The dials di and d2 carried by wheels wt and 102 as shown in Fig; 2 are provided withsimilar groups of letters which correspond to similar groups of letters printed on the cover plat 2|Y in registry to their digit equivalent printed on the keys, while the wheels w3, w4, w5, 206 and 10'! are provided with similarly-numbered dial d3, d4, d5, dB and d1 respectively. All the wheels w-l, w2, 1113, etc., however, are provided with similar sector-shaped code portions CP, see Figs. 6 and 7, and similar interiorly disposed ratchet teeth PRv provided to be engaged by lugs as 53 carried by longitudinally movable bars Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B3 and B1 following the successive setting of these wheels as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The shaft 24 is provided with arms al and a2 for securely mounting a shaft or bar 29 in the manner of a crank. This bar passes through curved openings as 32, Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 10, in the flange portion of wheels wl, w2, 203, etc. The end 11 of curved openings 32 forms abutting surfaces engaged by the bar 29 upon its movement as efiected by the manual operation of a g handle 36. in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 3 for returning the wheels wl, w2, 203, etc., to normal non-operated position following each call transmitting operation, while tensioning their respective retractile springs 33.

The shaft 24 as shown in Figs. 16,and 17 is operatively connected to the handle lever 36 by the clutch elements F and Fl formed respectively in the hub portion of handle 36 and the hub portion of an arm 38 keyed on the shaft 24. The arm 38 carries a spring-pressed pawl 31 enga ing a ratchet tooth rt2 formed at the periphery of a disc 39 having a hub portion hp mounted for free rotation on the shaft 24, and on the hub portion of this ratchet wheel is keyed a gear sector 40 provided with a pin 4i, to which is secured the end of the outer convolution of a spiral motor spring 42 located in a drum element 35 secured to the upright supporting plate 23, while the inner disposed convolution of spring 42 is hooked to a pin 43 laterally extending from upright supporting plate 23 so that the operation of handle 36 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 3 is effective torotate the shaft 24 and bar 29 carried thereby for collectively returning the wheels wl, 102, 203, etc., to normal unoperated position and collectively tensioning their retractile springs 33, while the rotation of the one tooth ratchet wheel 39 through pawl 31 is effective to move the gear sector 40 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position in Fig. 3 for tensioning the motor spring 42, the gear sector 40 being held in the operated position against the tension of spring 42 by a pawl 44 engaging under the tension of its retractile spring il a notch 45 in the one-tooth ratchet wheel 39 thus permitting the return movement of handle 36 and bar 29 carried by shaft 24 to normal non-operated position under the tension of a retractile spring rt, Fig. 16, having one end connected to a sector member l2l keyed on shaft 24 while the other end of this spring is hooked to a spacer member 68 best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the movement of bar 29 toward the opposite end of curved slot 32 in wheels wl, 102, 103, etc., permitting the individual movement of these wheels as effected by the tension of their retractile springs 33 under control of an escapement mechanism actuated by the movement of the key members Kl, K2, K3, etc., as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The upright supporting plates 22 and 23 as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 6 are provided with similar pairs of openings 46 and 41, respectively,

while supporting plate 22 in addition is provided with a row of indentations 48 disposed radially to shaft 24 and spaced to correspond to the space relation of the code portions and of the groups of letters and the digits printed on the wheels wl, w2, w3, etc., these indentations cooperating with the openings 45 and 47 for guiding longitudinally movable bars bl, b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, b1, b8, b9 and bl0, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14v 15 and 18. These bars are moved against the tension of similar retractile springs 2'! from the position shown in Fi 15 to the position shown in Fig. 14 by the operation of their respectively associated key members Kl, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, K8, K9 and Kll) through the engagement of the projections l8 formed with these keys engaging respective camming portions 50 formed in these bars. The bars bl, b2, b3, etc., in addition are provided With slots 5| for permitting the individual movement of the key projections l8 in engagement with their respectively associated cams 50 while the longitudinal movement of any one of the bars bl, b2, b3, etc., from the position shown in Fig. 15 to the position shown in Fig. 14 is effective to position its teeth tl, t2, t3, t4, t5, t5 and t! in the path of projections re, Figs. 6, 'l and 18, carried by the combined code-indicator wheels wl, 202, 1.03, etc., while the top edge of bars bl, b2, b3, etc., furnish stops for preventing the operation of any other unoperated key from that position until the return of the operated key to normal, when the operated bar respective to that key is returned by the tension of its retractile spring 21 to the position shown in Fig. 15 following its engagement by the operated wheel as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The retractile springs 27 as shown in Fig. 2 are disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal movement of their associated bars bl, b2, b3, etc., so as to cause a small sideway movement of these bars when operated in a direction opposite to the movement of the wheels toward setting position for engaging their shoulder portions 52 With the inner disposed surface of plate 22 for individually and momentarily holding these bars in their operated position until engaged and moved by the operation of their respectively associated Wheels wl, 102, 103, etc., under tension oi their retractile springs 33 in registry with their guiding indentations or slots 48 to permit the re turn movement of these bars to normal under the tension of their respectively associated springs 21.

The wheels wl, 202, 203 are normally held in the non-operated position against the tension of their retractile springs 33 by the engagement of lugs WL formed with these wheels with lugs WLI carried by the longitudinally movable bars Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and El, these bars having fork-shaped end portions as best seen in Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 for sliding movement on the shaft 24 and are supported at their opposite ends by a spacer plate 58 best seen in Figs. 12, 13, 18 and 19 having a straight slot nl for the bar BI and a plurality of two-step slots n2, n3, n4, n5, n5 and n? engaged by the ends of bars B2, B3, B4, B5, B3 and Bl movable therein b the tension of similar retractile springs 51 but under control of an escapement mechanism comprising two parallelly disposed bars 6! and 62 secured at their ends to sector members 63 and B4 in turn mounted for free rotation as a unit on shaft 24 and ratchet teeth th and till carried by the bars BI, B2, 133, etc., best seen in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

i 11 and 19 in addition to lugs 53, the bars B2 t BI bein'g: held in normal unoperatedposition through their engagement with the summerm tions" BIIrorming one ofthe steps in-the plate 58 while the bar BI "is normally" positioned in its guiding slot nl, see Fig. 12, but held from operating under the tension of its retractile spring 51 by the bar 6! of the escapement mechanism engaging the tooth thI of this bar by the tension of a retractile spring 65, having one of, its ends hooked to sector 63 and its opposite end to the edge of a'spacer plate 66 in turn secured to the top of supporting plates 22 and- 23;

Thebar 62 of the escapement mechanism is formed with a reinforcing rim 61 disposed in engageable relation with a cam 68 keyed on'a shaft 69 journaled in upright extending plates 22 and 23 and on one end of this shaft is keyeda lever member to the free end of which is secured a laterally-extending pin 1| fitted in a longitudinally-disposed slot in the end of an arm l2 ofa yoke best seen in Figs. 1,2 and 3 pivoted on shaft 24, the opposite arm 12Y of this yoke being bent at an angle as shown in Fig. 2' into operable relation with an arm 13 formed at one'end of a rectangularly-shaped plate 14.

Plate 14 is pivotedon lugsIS, i6 extending perpendicularly from the plate II, with its free edge held in operative relation with the keys KI, v

K2, K3, etc., by a retractile spring 11 so that the operation of any one of the-keys is effective to impart a small angular movement -to the plate 14 and through its arm I3 operates the yokes l2, 'I2Y against the tension of the retractile spring 11 for actuating an angle lever "UK for tensioning a spring I-IY, having one of its ends hooked to the pin 'II for tensioning a rectractile spring |2Y while causing the'rotation-of shaft 69 and cam and thereby operating the so-called anchor bars BI and 62 of the escapement mechanism which, as above mentioned, controls the operation of the longitudinally movable bars Bi, B2, B3, etc., and the consequent release of the combined code-indicator wheels wI, w2, w3, etc, in a sequence of operations which will be hereinafter described in detail while the sector member 64 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is provided with'indentations m engaged by the bars bI, b2, b3, etc., for preventing the operation of the escapement bars 6i and BZuncler the tension of retractilespring 65 untilthe return'movement of any one of the bars bl, b2, b3; etc., to normal non-operated position. I The movement of handle lever 36 from the position 'shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown'in Fig. 3 as above mentioned is effective to rotate the shaft 24 and thereby the gear sector 40 while tensioning the motor spring 42 and returning the code-indicator wheels wI', w2, 1.03 to normal non-operated position by their engagement with the crank arm 29. The rotation of shaft 24 is effective to impart a small angular movement to a shaft I shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 through a sector member I2I keyed on this shaft and having a notch I22 engaging the free end of a pin I23 in the manner of a Geneva-gear. The movement of shaft I20 from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in'Fig. -8 is effective to engage a plurality of pins'I24 carried by this shaft with the end of bars BI, B2, B3, etc., for returning the latter to normal non-operated position as shown in Fig.

' 12 simultaneously with the return movement. of

the wheelswl, w2, w3, etc., to normal non-operated position whereby these wheels are held from operating by'thenormal tension of their respectively associated retractile springs 51 through the engagement of the lugs WL carried by these wheels with the lugs WLI carried by the bars BI, B2, B3, eto., now in normal non-operated position while the bars B2 to B1 are themselves held in normal. non-operated position against the respective shoulder portions 60 in the spacer plate 50 and the bar BI by its escapement tooth thI resting against the anchor bar BI but in registry with its guiding slot ill in the spacer plate 58. The bars BI, B2, B3, etc., are provided with camming portions mI, m2, m3, m4, m5, m6 and m! the function of which is to impart a sideway movement to their consecutive bars for moving them in registry position with their respective slots for permitting their movement therein when released by the escapernent mechanism.

Upon the movement of shaft 24 as effected by handle lever 36 for returning the code-indicator wheels wl, w2, 1113, etc., and the bars BI, B2,,B3, etc., to normal non-operated position, the movement of gear-sector is imparted to a pinion I9 keyed on-one end of a shaft 80 journaled on the upright supporting plates 22 and 23 and on the other end of this shaft is keyed a gear 8i. the latter meshing with the pinion 82 having a hub ortion 83 on which is secured a gear 84. The pinion and gear unit 82-84 thus formed is mounted for free rotation on a spindle 85 laterally extending from the uprightsupporting plate 22 as shown in Fig. 2. The movement of gear 84 is imparted to a pinion 85Y keyed to one end. of a shaft 83 journaled at this end in a screwthreaded hub portion formed with the drum of a centrifugal governor CG while the other end of shaft 86 is journaled in the upright supporting plate 23. On shaft 86 is keyed an angle gear 88 whichmeshes with a similar gear 89 keyed to one end of a spindle 90 mounted for free rotation in abearing 9| formed at the free end of abracket 92 secured by a number of screws 93 to the spacer bar 63 in turn secured at its ends as best seen in Fig. 2 to lugs projecting from the supporting plates 22 and 23, and to the other end of spindle is secured a spur gear 95 engaged by a gear rack 96 securely mounted on a carriage in the form of a downwardly extending arm 97, see Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8 and 10 mounted for sliding movement on a shaft 88Y of square cross-section but pivoted at both ends in supporting plates 22 and 23. V a To the free end of carriage arm 91 is securely mounted an alternating current generator 99 hav ing a coil I00 and a set of differently tuned vibrating elements m, 112, 123,124 and 05 best seen in Figs. 4, 5,8 and 10 provided for engaging the code portions of combined code-indicator wheels ml, w2, 103, etc., following the manual operation of handle lever 36 as will be hereinafter described in detail, the alternating current generator being normally held in position-from engagement with the code portions of wheels wI, wZ, 1.03, etc.,,under the tension of a retractile spring IilI by a pawl I04 pivoted on lugs as I05 formed with the supporting plate '22 and engaging a pawl-shaped arm I08 keyed to the square shaft 88Y, the re-. tractile spring IOI having one end hooked to a lug I02 formed with the arm I06 and its other end hooked to the upward extending arm of supporting plate 22 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and? while a stop I03 cooperates with arm I06 for lime iting the engagement of the vibrative reeds vI, '02, '03, etc., relative to'the code portions of wheels wI, w2, 103, etc., as effected by the tension spring IOI, w

The, carriage arm 91 is formed with a projection I01 best seen in. Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 16, terminating in the form of an arm I08 provided for operating the pawl I04 for releasing the arm I06 to permit the pivoted movement of the generator by the tension of its retractile spring IOI in position against the stop I03 wherein the vibrative reeds M, 112, 113, etc., will engage the code portions of wheels wI, 102, 203, etc., for transmitting the call upon its return movement to normal position under the tension of motor spring 42 while the engagement of lug I I formed with supporting plate 23 with the cam portion I09 formed with projection I01 opposite the arm I08 causes. the pivotal movement of carriage arm 91 in position ineffective relative to the code portions of wheels wI, w2, w3, etc., to a point wherein the pawl I04 reengages the arm I08 for holding the generator and the vibrative reeds VI, V2, V3, etc., away from engagement from the code portions of wheels WI, W2, W3, etc., as shown in Fig. 4.

In a typical operation in the setting and transmitting of a call as MH-3-l000, for example, the movement of handle lever 36 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3 is effective through the rotation of shaft 24 and therefore that of crank bar 29 to position the combined code indicating wheels WI, W2, W3. etc., in normal non-operated position as shown in Fig. 2 when the handle lever 36 is returned to normal position by the tension of retractile spring rt hooked to sector I2I keyed on shaft 24. The gear sector 40, however, remains in the operated position as shown in Fig. 3 against the tension of motor spring 42 due to the pawl 44 engaging the notch 45 of disc 36 under the tension of its retractile spring iI. Rotation of gear sector 40 as effected by the handle 36 actuates the pinion 19 on the shaft 80 and thereby the gears 8|, 82, 84, 85Y and angle gear 88 on shaft 86 and through angle gears 88 and 89 the spur gear 95 meshing with the gear rack 96 thus moving the alterna ing current, generator 99 on bar SBY from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position at the opposite end of bar SBY wherein the lug I08 carried by the arm I01 of the generator engages the pawl I04 for releasing the arm I06 and thereby permitting the pivotal movement of shaft 88Y against the stop I03 as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and under the tension of its retractile spring IOI for positioning the vibrative elements VI, V2, V3, V4 and V5 of the generator in position for engaging the code portions of combined code indicating wheels WI, W2,, W3, etc., upon the return of the generator to normal non-operated position by the tension of motor spring 42 following the setting. of' the code indicating wheels and the manual operation of pawl 44.

The rotation of the shaft 24 and that of sector member I'll (see Figs. 8, 9, 12 and 13) is effective to return the longitudinally movable bars BI, B2, B3, etc., to normal non-operative position as shown in Fig. 12 against the tension of their retractile springs 51 through the engagement of the notch I22 in sector I2I with the end of rod I23 imparting a small angular movement to shaft I20 for engaging the arms I 24 carried thereby with the end portions of their respectively associated longitudinally movable bars BI, B2, B3, etc., for positioning the lug elements WLI carried by these bars in the path of lugs WL carried by the wheels wI, 202, 103, etc., for holding these wheels from operating under the tension of their retractile spring 33', the bars BI, B2, B3, etc., being themselves prevented from operating under the tension of their retractile prings 51 by the engagement of tooth thl of bar BI with the escapement bar GI and the bars B2, B3, 134, etc., in engagement with their respective shoulder portions 60 formed in the spacer bar 58.

In the setting operation of the combined codeindicator wheels as for transmitting the telephone call designation MH-3-1000 above mentioned, the operation of key K6 in registry with the group of letters. MNO printed on cover plate 2IY and representing the first number of the call designation is effective to actuate the pivoted plate, 14 which movement is imparted to the pivoted double armed lever 12-12Y and thereby to the anglelever 1IX, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for retating the cam shaft 69 by the tension of spring 1IY. The movement of cam shaft 69 in turn i effective to tension the spring "Y which serves to return the cam shaft 69 to normal upon the release of any one of the operated keys as in this example key K6. Rotation of cam shaft 69 and cam 68 keyed thereon from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 6 by the tension of spring 1IY permits the movement of parallel escapement bars 6| and 62 under the tension of retractile spring 65, Figs. 8 and 9 to cause the bar 6|, Figs. 6 and '1 of thi escapement to release the tooth TH I of longitudinally movable bar BI which as above described is positioned as shown in Figs. 12 and 18 in the guiding slot ml of spacer bar 58. The longitudinal movement of this bar as effected by the tension of its. retractile spring 51 causes the disengagement of lug LWI carried by this bar from the lug LW carried by the combined code-indicating wheel WI which is then rotated by the tension of its retractile spring 33 to a position wherein as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 18 the tooth re of wheel WI engages the tooth ti of bar b6 which has been moved longitudinally by the engagement of projection I8 of key K6 with the cam surface 50 of the bar b6 for engaging its respective notch in in disc 64 of its escapement bars 6| and 62 followed by a small side-way or pivotal movement of the oppositev end of this bar as imparted automatically by its retractile spring 21 for positioning its shoulder portion 52, see Fig. 14, against the inner disposed surface of upright supporting plate 22 during the continued movement of the key to the lower end of the cam portion 50. The movement of indicating wheel WI under tension of its retractile spring 33 and the consequent engagement of its lug re with the tooth tI of bar b6 is effective to return this bar in registry with its slot 48 in the upright support 22 for permitting its return movement to normal position as shown in Fig. 15 but following the return of the operated key to normal non-operated position, while the combined code indicating wheel WI is held in the operated position by the lug 53 of its longitudinally movable bar BI engaging the sixth tooth of ratchet portion PR in the wheelWI which position is indicated by the. group of letters MN 0 appearing through the opening WP in the casing, the return of bar D6 to normal non-operated position and the consequent freeing of disc 64 by this bar followed by the return movement of cam 68 to the position shown in Fig. 7 causes the escapement bar to move in the path of tooth ml of bar B2 for arresting the movement of the latter under the tension of its retractile spring 51 following its disengagement from the shoulder portion 60 as effected by the engagement of cam portion ml, and of bar BI with the free end of bar, B2 and, thi cycle of operation is repeatedfor each key depressed, the. groups of letters MNO-GHI and the digits 31000 appearing in the window WP in the casing, the entire setting being indicated in the diagrammatic view in Fig. 18.

The release of the gear sector 40 by the manual disengagement of the spring pressed'pawl 44 from the notch 45- of disc 39 permits the return of this gear sector to normal unoperated position under the tension of motor spring 42 for returning the alternating current generator to normal non-operated position causing the vibrative elements VI, V2, V3, V4 and V5 to engage the code portions of wheels WI, W2, W3, etc., which have been positioned by the operation of the keys K6, K4, K3, Kl, K), the latter operated three consecutive times, the'cam I09 carried by arm I01 of the generator mounting engaging the arm I [0 carried by upright supporting plate 23 to move the generator in position wherein the pawl I04 reengages with arm I06 thus positioning the vibrative elements in a path ineffective to engage the code portions of wheels WI W2, W3, etc., when the generator is moved to starting position as above described and the transmitter is now ready for a successive call setting and transmitting operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a call transmitter, a set of manually operable key members, a set of movable bars having means engaged byv said key members to cause said bars to move longitudinally, a plurality of code wheels, normally tensioned retractile springs for actuating said wheels, other bars disposed at right angles to the first-mentioned bars for holding said wheels in normal non-operated position against the tension of said springs, means actuated by the operation of each of said key members to cause the operation of the last-mentioned bars for successively releasing said wheels to cause the movement thereof, and means carried by said wheels engaging means carried 'by the first-mentioned bars for limiting the movement of said wheels to position corresponding to the operation of said key members.

2. In a call transmittena set of key members, a plurality of bars disposed transverse of said key members, a shaft, a plurality of combined code-indicator wheels mounted for free rotation -on said shaft, said bars being disposed in spaced relation to each other in a row concentric to said shaft, normally tensioned motor springs for actuating said wheels, a plurality of longitudinally movable bars disposed transverse of the first-mentioned bars, means carried by the last mentioned bars-normally engaging means carried by said wheels for holding the latter in normal non-operated position against the tension of said motor springs, an escapement mechanism and means carried by said key members for moving the first-mentioned bars in position for limiting the movement of said wheels followto cause said. bar to engage said portions for moving said wheels to normal non-operated position and tensioning said retractilesprings and a plurality of spring retracted slidable bars hav-.

code-indicator elements, normally tensioned re tractile springs for actuating said elements, a plurality of movable bars disposed for predetermining the extent of movement of said indicating elements, but normally ineffective thereto, means carried by said key members engaging means carried by said bars for moving the latter in position effective relative to said elements, an escapement mechanism means actuated by the operation of each of said keymembers for controlling the operation of said mechanism tocause the successive operation of said elements under the tension of said retractile springs for setting and indicating a call, an alternating current generator having vibrative reeds, motor meansfor moving said generator in direction transverse of said combined code indicator elements to cause the operation of said reeds for transmitting a call, asupport for said combined code-indicator elements manually operable for returning said elements and said escapement mechanism to normal unoperated position simultaneously following the transmitting of the call.

5. In a call transmitter, a set of key members, a pair of supporting plates, a shaft mounted for free rotation on said plates,,a pair of crank-arms keyed on said shaft, a bar secured to said arms for movement concentric to said shaft, a plurality of combined code indicating wheels mounted for free rotation on said shaft having means engaging by said bar for rotating said wheels to normal non-operated position, retractile springs for said wheels tensioned by the movement thereof, a handle mounted on said shaft having a clutch element, a lever member keyed on said shaft and having a clutch element connecting with the clutch element of said handle, a sleeve mounted for free rotation on said shaft, a disc member carried by said sleeve having a ratchet tooth engaged by means carried by said lever member, a gear sector keyed to said sleeve,

of said supporting plates for tensioning said springs upon the operation of said handle while moving said wheels to normal by the concentric movement of said bar, a manually operable ing the operation of the last-mentioned bars and the operation of said escapement mechanism under control of said key members.

3. In a call transmitter, a pair of mounting plates, a shaft journaledin said plates, a plurality of combined code-indicating wheels mounted for free rotation on said shaft, retractile springs for said wheels, a pair of crank-arms keyed to said shaft, a bar having its end portions secured to the free end of said arms for movement concentric to said shaft, said wheels having portions forming abutments disposed for engagement by said concentrically movable bar, manually operable means for rotating said shaft spring-pressed pawl pivoted on one of said supporting plates engaging means in said disc for holding said motor spring tensioned for permitting the return of said handle and said bar to normal non-operated position for permitting the movement of said wheels by said retractile springs under control of said key members for setting a call, a current generator having vibrative ele ments operatively connected to said gear sector and movable under the tension of said motor spring for engaging the code portions of said wheels for transmitting a call.

6. In a call transmitter, a set of key members, a shaft, combined code-indicator wheels mounted for free rotation on said shaft, normally tensioned retractile springs for rotating said wheels, a pair of supporting plates for said shaft, a spacer member secured at both ends to said supporting plate, longitudinally movable bars respectively associated with said wheels and having one of their ends slid'ably mounted on said shaft and their other ends slidably engaging said spacer member, retractile springs forsaid bars, means in said spacer member cooperating with means carried by said bars for holding the latter from operating against the tension of their retractile springs, means carried by said bars for normally holding said wheels from operating under the tension of their retractile springs, each of said bars having oppositely disposed ratchet teeth, a pair of parallelly disposed bars for alternately engaging said ratchet teeth for controlling the sequence of movement of said bars upon the operation of said key members to cause the successive operation of said wheels to angular positions corresponding to the operation of said key members for setting a call, ratchet teeth carried by said wheels, and other means carried by said bars for engaging said ratchet teeth for holdin said Wheels in said angular positions an alternating current generator having vibrative reeds, a normally tensioned motor spring, a gearing mechanism actuated by 'said motor spring .for moving said generator for engaging said reeds with the code portions of said Wheels for transmitting the call.

7. In a call transmitter, a set of pivoted key members, a pair of upright supporting plates, a plurality of bars one for each of said key members mounted for longitudinal movement in guiding means formed in said plates, each of said bars having a plurality of indentations and a cam element, said cam element being disposed in engageable relation with its respective key in said set whereby the operation of any one of said key members is effective to impart a sliding movement to its respective bar,'a set of combined code-indicator elements, normally tensioned spring means for actuating said elements, an escapement mechanism for normally holding said elements in normal non-operated position against the tension of said spring means, means actuated by the operation of each of said key members for actuating said escapement mechanism for releasing one of said code-indicator elements, means carried by said operated bar engaged by means carried by the released element for arresting the movement of the latter to positions corresponding to the digit value of the operated key member, the indentations of the operated sliding bar preventing the operation of the other keys in said sets from normal non-operated position until the return of the operated key to normal non-operated position, and spring means to eiTect such return movement.

8. In a call transmitter, a set of key members, a set of bars one for each of said key members, retractile springs for said bars, a pair of supporting plates having guiding means for said bars, means carried by said key member cooperating with means carried by said bars for moving the latter longitudinally against the tension of said retractile springs, said retractile springs being disposed to impart a shifting movement to similar ends of said bars in position for engaging one of said guiding plates whereby said bars when operated are held from returning to normal under the tension of said retractile Springs, a shaft mounted-on said supporting plates, a set of combined code-indicator elements mounted for free rotation on said shaft for movement at right angles to said bars, normally tensioned retractile springs for actuating said elements, means carried by said elements engaging means carried by said bars when the latter are in the operated position for determining the position of said elements according to the operation of said key members for setting a call, the engagement of the means carried by said bars imparting a movement to the latter for disengaging them from said supporting plates to cause their return movement to normal position, other means controlled by the operation of said key members for holding said elements in their set position, an alternating current generator having vibrative reeds, a handle, a motor spring tensioned by the operation of said handle, a gearing mechanism actuated by said motor spring for moving said generator in a direction for engaging the reeds thereof with the code portions of said elements for transmitting the call and a governor mechanism for controlling the operation of said motor spring.

9. In a call transmitter a set of key members, a set of longitudinally movable bars disposed in parallel relation to each other in an arcuate row and actuated by the operation of said key members, a shaft, a plurality of combined code indicator elements mounted for free rotation on said shaft, an escapement mechanism actuated by the movement of any one of said key members to cause the successive operation of said elements upon the operation of said bars, motor means for actuating said elements, and means carried by said bars in said arcuate row fOr engaging with means carried by said code indicating elements for controlling the angular movement of the latter in their movements as effected by said motor means for setting and indicating the call.

10. In a call transmitter, a set of key members, a set of bars arranged in an arcuate row, cam portions formed with said bars, means carried by each of said key members for engaging said cam portions for imparting longitudinal movement to' said bars individually, other bars disposed at right angles to the first-mentioned bars, code elements, spring means for actuating said code elements but normally held against movement by said other bars, an escapement mechanism actuated by the operation of said key members to cause the successive operation of said other bar for successively operating said code elements to position determined by the engagement of means carried by said elements with means carried by said bars in said arcuate row for setting a call.

THOMAS L. DO'WEY. 

